RESEARCH REPORT WRITING

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RESEARCH REPORT WRITING

• Y.L SOMASHEKARA
• Research Scholar
• DOS In Library Information Science
• MGM Mysore

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Research reports are detailed and accurate
accounts of the conduct of disciplined studies
accomplished to solve problems or to reveal new
knowledge. (Busha and Harter, 1988).
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1. Meaning of Research Report

• Research report writing is the oral or written
  presentation of the evidence and the findings in
  such detail and form as to be readily understood
  and accessed by the reader and as to enable him
  to verify the validity of the conclusions..
• According to American Marketing Society, Its
  purpose is to Convey to interested persons the
  whole result of study in sufficient detail and to
  enable each reader to comprehend the data and to
  determine himself the validity of the
  conclusions. It is covers, Disseminations,
  Presents the conclusions for the information and
  knowledge to others, to check the validity of the
  generalizations, to encourage others to carry on
  research on the same or allied problem.

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Structure of Research Report

• Generally, a research report, whether it is
  called dissertation or thesis
• 1) The Priliminary i.e. preface pages
• 2) The text of the report / Main body of the
  report
• 3) The Reference material.

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PRELIMINARY SECTION

• Title page
• Certification
• Candidate Declaration
• Preface including Acknowledgements
• Table of Content
• List of Tables
• List of figures
• List of Abbreviation

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CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION

• 1.0 Introduction
• 1.1 Background of the study
• 1.2 Problem Statement
• 1.3 Purpose and objective of the study
• 1.4 Research Questions
• 1.5 Definition of Terms
• 1.6 Significant of the study
• 1.7 Conclusion

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CHAPTER 2-LITERATURE REVIEW

• 2.0 Introduction
• 2.1 Body of the literature
• 2.1.1 General area of research
• 2.1.2 Underlying theory
• 2.1.3 Variables used from previous literature
• 2.2 Theoretical Framework
• 2.3 Hypotheses
• 2.4 Conclusion

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CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• 3.0 Introduction
• 3.1 Research Design
• 3.2 Variable and Measurement
• 3.3 Questionnaire design
• 3.4 Population and Sample
• 3.5 Scope of the study
• 3.6 Data analysis method
• 3.6.1 Goodness of data
• 3.6.2 Inferential analysis
• 3.7 Conclusion

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CHAPTER 4- DATA COLLECTION, DATA ANALYSIS

• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Goodness of Measure
• 4.2.1 Representativeness of data
• 4.2.2 Validity test
• 4.2.3 Reliability test
• 4.3 Inferential analysis
• 4.3.1 Descriptive analysis
• 4.3.2 Test of difference
• 4.3.3 Test of relationship
• Correlation analysis
• Hypothesis testing
• 4.4 Conclusion

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CHAPTER 5-DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

• 5.1 Recapitulation of major findings
• 5.2 Discussion
• 5.3 Implication
• 5.3.1 Theoretical Implication
• 5.3.2 Practical Implication
• 5.4 Limitation
• 5.5 Recommendation for future research
• 5.6 Conclusion

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REFERENCE MATERIAL

• The reference material is generally divided as
  fallows
• 1. Bibliography (APA Style or ..)
• 2. Appendices (SPSS output Data Stream)
• 3. Glossary of terms (if any)
• 4. Index (if any)

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Types Of reports

• Technical Report
• Popular Report
• The Report for the Administrator
• Oral Report

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Difficulties or Problems in Writing a Report

• 1) The Problems of Communications
• a. Technical terms should be properly explained.
• b. Neither too simple nor too difficult
  expression
• c. Level of Knowledge and subject-matter
• d. Language and drafting
• 2) The problem of objectivity .
• 3) The Problems of expression of bitter truths
  and unpleasant facts

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Preparation of reports

• For preparations or drafting of reports three
  steps are involved.
• 1) First Draft
• Comprehensiveness or fullness of facts.
• Precision or Accuracy of Facts
• Coherence or logic of facts, and
• Movement or transition of facts and ideas.

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Second Drafts Third Drafts

• 2nd. The researcher should give the first draft,
  at this stage, a shape so that it can be
  readable, clear and lucid. Considerable trimming
  or editing will have to be done to make the
  writing precise, Concise and brief. Finally, at
  the second draft stage, critical evaluation will
  have to be made of all that has been
  written-facts, findings, conclusions and
  recommendations.
• 3rd. And final The final stage in drafting is
  the preparations of final report. It concentrates
  mainly on the finish and final touches, i.e., on
  documentation and polish to make the report
  weighty, authoritative, convincing and
  attractive. Documentation indicated the
  references to the sources, other previous and
  current work and view, additional data and
  discussion and suggested further reading on the
  specific problem as handled by the researcher. In
  other words, it indicated the thoroughness of the
  investigation and on the other a guide to further
  work.

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Characteristics of good report

• 1) Attractive
• 2) Clear Topic
• 3) Balanced Language
• 4) No repetition of facts
• 5) Statement of scientific facts
• 6) Practicability
• 7)Description of the difficulties and the
  shortcomings

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Good Report Conclusions

• Review of literature
• Treatment of quotations
• Size and Physical Design
• Footnotes
• Use of Abbreviations
• Use of Statistics, Charts and Graphs
• Bibliography, Index Appendices
• Conclusions In spite of all that has been stated
  above, one should always keep in view the fact
  report-writing is an art which is learnt by
  practice and experience.

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Thank you